Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s bid to secure Congress backing marks a decisive moment in Tamil Nadu’s shifting political landscape. After winning 108 seats and breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK, the TVK is now racing against time to build a viable coalition and stake claim to power in a fractured mandate.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi: May 5, 2026: Actor-turned-politician Vijay has reached out to the Congress seeking support to form the next government in Tamil Nadu, senior Congress leader K. C. Venugopal said on Monday. The move follows the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) stunning debut in the Assembly elections, which has disrupted the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in the state.
Venugopal said the Congress’s Tamil Nadu unit will meet in Chennai on Tuesday morning to deliberate on the proposal and take a final call. He emphasized that the party is not inclined to support any arrangement that could facilitate the BJP’s entry into power in the state, asserting that the mandate clearly favours a “secular government”.
Sources indicated that the Congress is inclined to back the TVK, with the party’s central leadership giving its state unit full autonomy to decide on the matter. Other political players may also be brought into the alliance, although no names have been officially confirmed. Vijay is yet to formally stake claim to form the government, a necessary step before the swearing-in process can begin.
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Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar confirmed that Vijay had written to the party leadership seeking support. Acknowledging the political momentum behind the TVK, Chodankar said the party’s performance had been underwhelming and that a strong wave in Vijay’s favour—particularly among youth and women voters—had shaped the outcome.
“The mandate is clearly for a secular government,” he said, adding that the party is carefully considering its options.
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TVK President Thiru Vijay has requested the Indian National Congress’ (INC) support to form a government in Tamil Nadu.
The INC is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government, committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit.
The INC is… pic.twitter.com/f6fhCDZGFs
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 5, 2026
The TVK has emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, falling short of the majority mark of 118. The fractured mandate has triggered intense negotiations among political parties as they explore possible alliances to form the government.
In his first public statement after the results, Vijay took to X to thank supporters and reflect on the party’s journey. He said the TVK had faced sustained criticism and skepticism since its inception but remained steadfast in its belief in the people of Tamil Nadu.
“Many spoke against us when we launched the party. We overcame it all and stood alone, trusting the people. Criticism and disguised hostility came our way, but the people of Tamil Nadu—whom we entered politics to serve—stood by us like a mother,” he said in a post in Tamil.
Describing the outcome as more than just a party victory, Vijay called it a triumph of democracy. He expressed gratitude to voters, party workers, administrators, and supporters who contributed to what he termed an “unexpected political milestone” in the state’s history.
